Grandma Brown'S Beans - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb navy beans
1 teaspoon baking soda
water, to cover
1 teaspoon salt
3 ounces ham or 3 ounces cooked bacon
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 medium onion, chopped (optional)
1 bay leaf (optional)

Preparation

add 1 teaspoon baking soda to 6 cups water.
bring water to a boil.
sort through beans for debris.
add navy beans to water.
boil 10 minutes.
turn off heat.
cover pot.
let sit overnight.
rinse beans well.
add beans and all other ingredients to oven proof pot with tight fitting lid.
stir well.
add water until beans are just covered.
cover pot with lid.
bake 5 to 6 hours at 300\u00b0F.
every hour stir and add water to cover if beans are drying out.
final product should be a thick and not runny.